Texas, 1997

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Texas, September 3, 1997

September 3, 1997 · NWS FWD · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

3 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:46 UTC.

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Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When
September 3, 1:59 PM CST
Where
Wise County, 4 mi E of Bridgeport
Coordinates
33.220, -97.700

Strong winds blew down trees onto Highway 380.

Lightning, Denton

When
September 3, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Denton County, Lewisville
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A girl was struck and injured by lightning outside her high school.

Flash Flood, Montague

When
September 3, 5:08 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Montague County, Bowie
Coordinates
33.676, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain caused extensive street flooding in town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockwall

When
September 3, 5:12 PM CST
Where
Rockwall County, Rockwall
Coordinates
32.930, -96.450

Strong winds blew large tree limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hunt

When
September 3, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Hunt County, Quinlan
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
32.900, -96.130

Strong winds blew a large tree onto two pickup trucks.

Lightning, Tarrant

When
September 3, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Tarrant County, Arlington
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a house and started a fire that caused minor damage.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, September 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5612979, 5613052, 5613053, 5613054, 5613055, 5613056.